Transcutaneous oxygen and carbon dioxide monitoring in sick neonates using a combined sensor.

Using a combined O2-CO2 sensor, we evaluated the effect of cathode size and membrane thickness and incorporation of correction factor upon transcutaneous O2-CO2 readings. The present studies were carried out in three phases in newborns less than a week of age. The data from these studies indicate that a combined O2-CO2 sensor with a smaller cathode, Teflon membrane and with a built-in correction factor can accurately reflect arterial O2 and CO2 tension and can replace the present two heated sensors.